Following the first recorded confirmed case of coronavirus in Nigeria last Friday, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that facilitation time for air travellers may now take longer.
The regulator strongly advised airlines and other airport users to adhere strictly to guidelines released given by Port Health Services and take appropriate precautions to protect themselves and other members of the airport community.
The advice was given by the Director-General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu in a media statement on the harmonisation of the preventive measures of further spread of the Coronavirus 19 through the nation’s airports.
Nuhu who said the advice became imperative following the confirmation of a victim with the virus who came in through the nation’s airport, said the measures in place is to ensure that everyone is protected from getting infected with the virus while passengers facilitation may be minimally disrupted.
“We advise the travelling public to remain calm but alert and take the necessary precaution in protecting themselves while traveling, including alerting crew members and airport facilitation staff if a traveller is seen to be ill or showing signs and symptoms of the disease. Travelers returning from countries experiencing community transmission of the COVID-19 should present themselves to Port Health Services on arrival at the Point of Entry – International Airport. Travelers who develop signs and symptoms of the disease after returning from a trip abroad are to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest Health facility or call the National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) on 0800-970000-10.
“Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in line with the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) has been working with the Federal Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders in the aviation industry to ensure all travellers coming into the country are adequately screened while causing minimum disruption to facilitation of travel.
While assuring of NCAA’s commitment to the safety of travellers and Nigeria’s National Health Security, the newly appointed Director-General said the Aviation regulatory body in Nigeria “will continue to do all that is necessary to ensure both.”
It would be recalled that the first recorded confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was made public by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) on February 27, 2020.
The virus came into the country through an Italian traveling from Milan who came in through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday, February 24, 2020.
The Federal Ministry of Health, The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Lagos State Ministry of Health, and Ogun State Ministry of Health, have since swiftly responded to ensure there is no further spread of the disease.
NCAA said it will continue to ensure that airlines assist with the tracking of passengers who may have come in contact with the suspect or ill persons as well as other measures the National Surveillance Systems requires.
It added that all contingency plans for public health events in aviation have been activated including airport-specific Public Health Emergency Contingency Plans (PHECPs).
Nuhu affirmed that all measures adopted at Nigerian airports are in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and WHO International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
